Physician License Verification in California – The New Letters of Good Standing
If your hospital or medical clinic is considering hiring a surgeon or another type of specialized physician, it’s important to make sure they are qualified. By requesting a physician or surgeon license verification, you can obtain a written verification for the licensee that will be sent to the medical board for review. Formerly known as Letters of Good Standing, license verification lets you know that the physician in question is currently licensed. A more in-depth license verification provides information on any suspensions, restrictions, or revocations against the license and will inform you of any disciplinary action in the candidate’s history.
California Physician Medical License Requirements
But what qualifications are you verifying? The requirements for a California Physician Medical License include:
- Fulfillment of all the requirements for a Doctor of Medicine degree from an accredited medical school
- Completion of one year of postgraduate training for American and Canadian candidates
- Completion of two years of postgraduate training for international candidates in the same specialty and completion of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification
- A passing score on FLEX, NBME, or USMLE. (Note: The Puerto Rico Medical Revalidation Examination does not satisfy this requirement.)
- Demonstrated evidence of clinical proficiency by meeting at least one of the following requirements:
- Current licensure in another state, territory, or province, and participation in the practice of medicine in another jurisdiction for at least two of the last four years, or
- A passing score on a board-approved clinical competency examination the year prior to filing the application, or
- Completion of a board-approved postgraduate training program within two years preceding the filing of the application, or
- A passing score on a national examination such as FLEX, NBME, or USMLE or current, valid licensure in the U.S. or Canada, and active practice of medicine under current licensure for at least 10 years, successful passing of a state board or Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC) examination, and successful passing of the Special Purpose Exam (SPEX), or
- Licensure from a state board exam prior to 1974, and current licensure in at least three other states or provinces in the U.S. or Canada, and active practice of medicine under such licensure for at least 20 years.
How to Apply for License Verification in the State of California
The two ways to request license verification from the State of California are as follows:
1) Contact VeriDoc
This is the fastest way to receive a license verification. When you request a license verification online at VeriDoc and pay the required fee, the state/country medical board will receive the verification by email the next business day after VeriDoc receives the request.
2) Contact the Medical Board of California
This mail-in process takes four to six weeks, as explained below.
5 Steps to Request a License Verification from the Medical Board of California
- Submit a written request for license verification to the Medical Board of California.
- Provide the contact information (phone and email address) of the person requesting the verification.
- Provide the name and California license number of the physician(s) for each request.
- Provide the name and address of each state/country medical board that will be receiving the request.
- Submit a check written to the Medical Board of California in the amount of $10.00 for each request.
All of this information should be sent to the address below.
Licensing Program
Medical Board of California
2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 1200
Sacramento, CA 95815
For questions, contact one of the following:
Toll-Free: 800-633-2322
Phone: 916-263-2382
Direct Phone: 916-263-2382
Obtaining a physician license verification is an important step to take to ensure the physicians and surgeons you hire are currently licensed. An in-depth view of all new providers you hire will protect you, your healthcare entity, and the patients you serve.
Physician License Verifications by Verisys
You can save time and receive a complete view of a surgeon or physician’s licensure status when performing license verifications through VLSS (Verified License Search and Status) from Verisys. VLSS actively verifies, gathers, and continuously monitors primary source data on healthcare providers from licensing boards in all U.S. states, territories, and jurisdictions, including California. Verisys’ license verifications provide a full license history: not only the provider’s current license but all licenses the provider has held, for a full healthcare provider license verification.
Physician license verification by Verisys confirms whether the provider in question is currently licensed. It also continuously monitors the license for any status changes, including impaired, revoked, suspended, restricted, placed on probation, or superseded licenses, and will provide information on any disciplinary action in the candidate’s history.
By verifying and continuously monitoring the license and status of all physicians on your staff, you can demonstrate your commitment to patient safety and avoid situations that could compromise your ability to provide the highest quality of care. Find out more at verisys.com.
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Written by Juliette Willard Healthcare Communications Specialist Connect with Juliette on LinkedIn |